Students

PICT3020 – PACE: International Studies in Practice

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convener
Dalbir Ahlawat
Contact via By email
Room 319, Level 3, 25 B Wally's Walk
By appointment
Convenor
Sung-Ae Lee
Contact via By email
25WW C339
By appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(Admission to Bachelor of Security Studies and 50cps at 2000 level or above) or (PICT1030 and SOCI1030 and 50cps at 2000 level or above) or (CRIM1001 and CRIM1002 and LAWS2050 and 50cps at 2000 level including CRIM2001 or CRIM2002)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
PIX3020
Unit description Unit description

As the Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) unit for the School of International Studies, PICT3020 partners students with organisations drawn from government, industry, and civil society. Teams of students will work on projects designed both to contribute to the mission of their partner organisation and to give students the opportunity to apply the insights they have developed over the course of their program to a practical problem in their field. Mentors from the partner organisations will provide guidance to the student teams during the unit. Alongside their PACE project work, students will undertake some complementary career development exercises and consider what it means to think and act ethically in their chosen careers. To apply for PICT3020 in Session 2, students must meet specific prerequisites to enroll (see pre-requisite section below). Students are responsible for ensuring these requirements are met prior to course registration.  Visit Employability Connect for important information on this unit.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Examine and engage with major paradigms of thought within the School of International Studies
  • ULO2: Discuss and critically evaluate major challenges, issues, and questions relating to Australian national interest and/or international relations.
  • ULO3: Apply ethical and professional standards expected of the School of International Studies, appropriate to the cultural, political, and/or social context of the PACE activity.
  • ULO4: Understand and apply principles of teamwork, project management, cross-cultural communication, and problem-solving during the PACE activity.
  • ULO5: Consider and engage in strategies relating to personal, professional, and career development via reflexive practice.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI Approach
Reflection 20% No Week 13 Individual No Observed
Final Presentation 50% No Weeks 12 and 13 Individual and Group No Open
Progress Report 30% No Week 7 Individual No Observed

Reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Demonstrate your professional growth and achievement of learning objectives through a detailed analysis of your individual project contribution and key accomplishments.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine and engage with major paradigms of thought within the School of International Studies
  • Apply ethical and professional standards expected of the School of International Studies, appropriate to the cultural, political, and/or social context of the PACE activity.
  • Consider and engage in strategies relating to personal, professional, and career development via reflexive practice.

Final Presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Weeks 12 and 13
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual and Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open

Deliver a professional team presentation to showcase your project outcomes, key achievements, and recommendations to the industry partner, demonstrating your group's ability to effectively communicate complex ideas and solutions in a business context.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine and engage with major paradigms of thought within the School of International Studies
  • Discuss and critically evaluate major challenges, issues, and questions relating to Australian national interest and/or international relations.
  • Apply ethical and professional standards expected of the School of International Studies, appropriate to the cultural, political, and/or social context of the PACE activity.
  • Understand and apply principles of teamwork, project management, cross-cultural communication, and problem-solving during the PACE activity.

Progress Report

Assessment Type 1: Written Submission
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed

Students will prepare a progress report detailing their progress, key contributions, and alignment with the team objectives thus far in their project.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply ethical and professional standards expected of the School of International Studies, appropriate to the cultural, political, and/or social context of the PACE activity.
  • Understand and apply principles of teamwork, project management, cross-cultural communication, and problem-solving during the PACE activity.
  • Consider and engage in strategies relating to personal, professional, and career development via reflexive practice.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • Academic Success for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

UNIT REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

• You should spend an average of 12 hours per week on this unit. This includes listening to lectures prior to seminar or tutorial, reading weekly required materials as detailed in iLearn, participating in ilearn discussion forums and preparing assessments.

• Internal students are expected to attend all seminar or tutorial sessions, and external students are expected to make significant contributions to on-line activities.

• In most cases students are expected to attempt and submit all major assessment tasks in order to pass the unit.

REQUIRED READINGS

• The citations for all the required readings for this unit are available to enrolled students through the unit iLearn site, and at Macquarie University's library site. Electronic copies of required readings may be accessed through the library or will be made available by other means.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

• Computer and internet access are essential for this unit. Basic computer skills and skills in word processing are also a requirement.

• This unit has an online presence. Login is via: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

• Students are required to have regular access to a computer and the internet. Mobile devices alone are not sufficient.

• Information about IT used at Macquarie University is available at http://students.mq.ed u.au/it_services/

SUBMITTING ASSESSMENT TASKS

• All text-based assessment tasks are to be submitted, marked and returned electronically. This will only happen through the unit iLearn site.

• Assessment tasks must be submitted as a MS word document by the due date.

• Most assessment tasks will be subject to a 'TurnitIn' review as an automatic part of the submission process.

• The granting of extensions is subject to the university’s Special Consideration Policy. Extensions will not be granted by unit conveners or tutors, but must be lodged through Special Consideration: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

LATE SUBMISSION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/ exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

WORD LIMITS FOR ASSESSMENT TASKS

• Stated word limits include footnotes and footnoted references, but not bibliography, or title page.

• Word limits can generally deviate by 10% either over or under the stated figure.

REASSESSMENT OF ASSIGNMENTS DURING THE SEMESTER

• Macquarie University operates a Grade Appeal Policy in cases where students feel their work was graded inappropriately: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html 

• In accordance with the Grade Appeal Policy, individual works are not subject to regrading.

STAFF AVAILABILITY

• Department staff will endeavour to answer student enquiries in a timely manner. However, emails or iLearn messages will not usually be answered over the weekend or public holiday period.

• Students are encouraged to read the Unit Guide and look at instructions posted on the iLearn site before sending email requests to staff.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths supportacademic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes from Previous Offering

Two units are combined by subordinating INTS3050 to PICT3020. The unit content and approach are not consistent with what BIS students have studied in their previous units. They may find it distressing to be required to work within a different discipline at this late stage of their studies. The structure is not sufficiently flexible to accommodate the expectations of BIS students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
18/02/2026 - Adjustment to the sequencing of assessment tasks. - Overview and rationale for changes implemented since the previous offering.

Unit information based on version 2026.05 of the Handbook